DURANGO, Colo. – The La Plata Electric Association’s (LPEA) independent election supervisory committee has verified candidates for the cooperative’s 2020 Board of Directors election. LPEA has four director districts, established geographically. Each year, LPEA’s membership elects four representatives to the LPEA Board of Directors, one from each district.
“LPEA is a cooperative, which means we are owned by our members,” said Jessica Matlock, LPEA CEO. “All LPEA members in good standing are qualified to vote for the directors who represent them. As the directors make decisions that impact everyone, I encourage members to learn about the candidates and vote to make sure their voice is heard in the LPEA boardroom.”
Candidates for the 2020 election are as follows:
District 1, Archuleta County:
Bob Lynch, current LPEA Board President, is running unopposed. Pending formal approval by the LPEA board, Lynch will be reappointed.
District 2, South and West La Plata County:
Two new candidates, Doug Fults and John Lee Jr., are vying to fill the seat to be vacated by retiring director Davin Montoya.
District 3, City of Durango:
Incumbent Rachel Landis is being challenged by new candidate Dave Nulton.
District 4, North and East La Plata County:
Incumbent Guinn Unger is being challenged by new candidate Sue McWilliams.
More details on the candidates and how to submit ballots will be distributed in the ballot packet to be mailed to all members in mid-April. Please note that as the race in District 1 is uncontested, ballots and candidate packets will not be mailed to members to save costs. To be counted, ballots must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Friday May 15th 2020.
Election results will be confirmed at LPEA’s Annual Meeting, currently scheduled to take place on May 16, 2020 at Pagosa Springs High School. Given the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the meeting may need to be postponed. In this instance, the current directors will continue to serve until the Annual Meeting can be held to officially confirm the new directors. For the latest details on the Annual Meeting, visit https://lpea.coop/annual-meeting.
LPEA is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative serving La Plata and Archuleta, with segments of Hinsdale, Mineral and San Juan counties. LPEA is the fifth largest cooperative of 22 in Colorado, and aims to provide safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost to its approximately 34,000 members. For additional information, contact LPEA at 970.247.5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.